(MURRAY, Ky.) – Murray State women’s basketball announced today that program legend Katelyn Young will join the coaching staff as an assistant coach for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
Young, who concluded her illustrious playing career with the Racers following their historic 2024-25 campaign, recently wrapped up a successful stint with the Knox Raiders in Australia’s NBL1. The Oakwood, Illinois native helped lead the Raiders to the NBL National Championship, contributing 10 points and six rebounds in the title game.
The transition from player to coach marks a homecoming for Young, who rewrote the Murray State record books during her collegiate career. She finished as the program’s all-time leader in both scoring and rebounding, accumulating 3,029 career points – good for 14th all-time in Division I history.
Young joins an exclusive club as just the second student-athlete in Murray State history to record both 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds, joining basketball legend Popeye Jones in that rare achievement.
“We are beyond excited to welcome back one of the greatest players in our program’s history,” said Head Coach Rechelle Turner. “Having our all-time leading scorer, whose jersey hangs in the rafters and who has excelled at the professional level, return as an assistant coach to mentor and develop our post players is truly special. She embodies what it means to be a Racer, and we can’t wait to see the impact she’ll make on our team and our future.”
During her decorated collegiate career, Young earned five all-conference selections while averaging 19.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Her senior season proved to be the culmination of her outstanding career, as she helped lead the Racers to both the Missouri Valley Conference regular season and tournament championships in 2025.
Young’s jersey retirement ceremony reflected her impact on the program, with her number now hanging in the CFSB Center rafters alongside other Murray State greats.
The addition of Young to the coaching staff brings valuable recent playing experience and championship-level mentality to a program looking to build on its recent success. Her expertise will be particularly valuable in developing the team’s post players, given her dominance in the paint throughout her career.
Young is expected to begin her coaching duties immediately as the Racers prepare for the 2025-26 season.